Alumni Spotlight: Morgan Sexton ’21L Morgan Sexton is Corporate Counsel Director at Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc., the largest independent Coca-Cola bottler in the United States.

Morgan Sexton ’21L

Morgan Sexton ‘21L was born and raised in the greater Charlotte, North Carolina area. She graduated from Tulane University in 2015, where she received a dual degree in psychology and anthropology with a minor in business administration. Before attending law school at W&L Law, Morgan worked in the business advisory division of Grant Thornton LLP, focusing on regulatory compliance and consent order remediation. In law school, Morgan served as an Equal Justice Works Fellow with Tzedek DC, summered at King & Spalding LLP in the Charlotte office, and externed with the Delaware Court of Chancery under then-Vice Chancellor Joseph R. Slights, III (a fellow W&L Law alum). Morgan currently serves as Corporate Counsel Director at Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc., the largest independent Coca-Cola bottler in the United States. Outside of work, Morgan enjoys cooking, gardening (outdoor and indoor hydroponics), and simply spending time with her loved ones.

Discuss your career path and how it led you to Coca-Cola Consolidated.

My career path is a bit more untraditional. I always toyed with the idea of law school as an undergraduate, but I wasn’t ready to make the commitment (financially or mentally, honestly) for law school at that time. I took three years off working as a Business Risk Services Associate with Grant Thornton LLP, which gave me a glimpse into quasi-legal work and the billing lifestyle. After a few years of growth, I decided to make the leap and apply to law school. I chose W&L Law as my brother went to W&L for his undergraduate degree, and I fell in love with Lexington during his time there (plus, I needed someplace less distracting than New Orleans the second time around). I knew I wanted to practice transactional law, so I tailored my classes, summer experiences, and externship to this goal. I started in the Charlotte office of King & Spalding in its Corporate, Finance and Investments group, with a focus on real estate and real estate finance. I completed my first year when I decided to practice a different subject matter, and I jumped to Alston & Bird and joined its Corporate and Business Transactions group, with a focus on private equity. After a couple of years, I decided to transition in-house and joined the legal team here at Coca-Cola Consolidated.

What sort of legal issues do you handle on a day-to-day basis?

My practice at Coca-Cola Consolidated is incredibly varied and touches all practice areas besides labor and employment. I handle or assist with corporate transactions and reporting, promotional events and rules, real estate purchases and sales, reviewing and revising policies and procedures, responding to public requests for proposals, drafting and negotiating customer or vendor agreements, statutory and corporate research, drafting form agreements, etc. My current workflow primarily consists of drafting, reviewing, and/or negotiating commercial contracts, ranging from sponsorship agreements for prestige marketing assets to master service agreements for corporate services.

What do you like about your current job?

My favorite aspect of my job at Coca-Cola Consolidated is that I feel more like a “counselor.” As I have transitioned in-house, I’ve learned that my role is primarily as an advisor, and I largely identify risks, advise the key stakeholders of those risks and the potential repercussions thereof, and then talk through courses of action those stakeholders could pursue. It is a hat I did not get to wear as a junior associate in big law.

What are some practices you have in your daily life as an attorney to maintain wellness?

I take myself on a little “field trip” each day – whether it is a ten minute walk around the block, walking to grab a coffee, or stepping outside to have lunch with a coworker. Personally, I need to get out of the office at least ten to fifteen minutes a day to feel productive and happy, and I often find that taking a mental break while getting some sun and stretching my legs amplifies both of those qualities.

Which W&L classes and/or experiences do you think were most helpful in preparing you for this job? 

Business Associations, Securities Regulation, Cross-border Transactions, and Corporate Finance were foundational classes for my practice. I also cannot recommend the externship with the Delaware Court of Chancery more highly. It was a fantastic, hands-on experience and it exemplified how clear, concise drafting in contracts is critical.

What advice do you have for prospective law students?

If you can, take time off to work, travel, volunteer, or do whatever between undergraduate and law school. My time in between my degrees spurred personal growth, gave me a greater appreciation for being a student and the depth of my legal education, and made me stand out as a candidate during recruiting.

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